Back in September, Venture Trust held a two-day Outdoor Therapy training course at the Three Hares Community Woodland. The course was attended by counsellors and outdoor professionals from varying backgrounds. The participants enjoyed the peace and tranquillity of the site to explore their inner and outer worlds and experiment with the use of metaphor and nature as co-facilitator/co-therapist in their practice.

Venture Trust’s Outdoor Therapy service aims to support people by combining the full range of benefits from time in nature and the outdoors with professional therapy to improve mental health and wellbeing. 

Outdoor Therapy is delivered in urban outdoor and green spaces such as parks, community gardens, woodlands, beaches, or local hills. It can help people gain perspective and reflect on past or current life events that are troubling. Metaphors offered by nature may develop into insight on feelings, relationships, and experiences. – Rich (Tilly) Tildesley, Venture Trust

Three Hares Woodland…was the perfect location in so many ways. When we were reflecting on running the training afterwards, we reflected that it couldn’t really have been more perfect. The site has such a wonderful variety of spaces, a firepit, the water, the hut, and the compost loo! – Katarina Horrox, Clinical Manager, Venture Trust